The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1887-02-18
A week later Marcia received this let

to let you kno that we want
you to come rite out to kancas, for
they is the best kind of sho for
you to git along. wisht could send
mummy for you to come on the kars or
that could come after you, but cant
just now an we want you to come right
off. Since readin your Letter l Amt
afraid to have you come alone. | bleeye
you could 90 to the north poal il
you set out to. You must sell your
Wagon an the critters and come on
the kars. Send word when you will
start an your ant Cindy and me will
meet you at the depo 20 miles from
here, you will be welkum to the best
we got. And Cindy sends kiss to the
baby and SEE she will be glad when she
kin hug it an all the rest of you, an SO
am your unkel until deth Jonas Dill. !"
Marcia Dill was very glad to get this
letter. She read it aloud to Zebby, and
a smile came into his thin, pale face.
80 Marcia!" he said, "we'n 90,
won't we?"
"Indeed we WILL" said Marcia,
promptly, "but don't intend selling
the horse and cow. 1 s'spose that's
what Uncle Jonas means by the crit
ters. Well need them if we take up
farm out there, and we couldn't sell
, them for much. You know old Bally
isn't very good horse and he's worth
more to us than to anybody else"
Poor old Bally wasn't really worth
much to anybody. He was away up
in the teens when it came to age. He
was blind, and had shambling gait,
and there never before was quite such
a loose-jointed, knobby old "critter :"
as Bally was.
The wagon old Bally had drawn
around for so many years was what the
neighbors had long called "Dills
shacklytied old cart. 1t was small,
rattling old vehicle. No two of it's
four wheels seemed to be of the same
size, and Zebby Dill once quantity said
that it 'made him cross-eyed and
crooked for week after, when he rode
mile in that cart.
''But it's all we've got, and we must
make the best of it," said Marcia,
bravely. "And 1 know from Uncle
Jonas's letter that he and Aunt Cindy
wont be ashamed of us, if we do come
in such an old cart with horse like
Bally."
The neighbors all said that they
''never heard of such a thing" when
Marcia told them of her plans. But
they knew that Marcia Dill was the
wisest little girl of twelve years in all
the country round about; and some
said that there were "growed up VIM
men who didn't have the good sense
Marshy Dill had"
1t was the first of July before Marcia
was ready to start, and it was a sorrow
full, forlorn-looking little procession
that drove away from the shabby old
house. First came old Bally and the
cart, with Zebby driving. By his side
sat Katie, wearing a big pink sun-bon-
net. Baby Sammy was lying on a pile
of bed-clothes under the canvas cover
Marcia had bought for the wagon.
Marcia, also wearing pink calico sun
bonnet, walked behind, driving the cow
and calf Back of Marcia came old
lobe, an ugly, useless, old yellow dog.
Marcia said she couldn't bear to leave
him behind, because father had thought
so much of him." Some of the neigh
bors had said that Mr.. Dill had really
thought more of the old dog than of
any of his children.
These poor, forlorn, homeless little
Dills felt very badly when the time
came for starting. Even Marcia,
brave though she was, cried many times
when she felt sure Zebby was not
looking. They had risen very early,
and gathered all the roses there were
on Marcia's treasured bushes. She had
a few pansies, and handful of daisies
also, and these were cut with the dew
still on them.
Then Marcia took Baby Sammy in
her arms, Zebby led Katie, and they all
walked half mile across the shining
fields to the lonely little cemetery in
which their father and mother lay
| buried. The flowers were laid on the
graves; then they knelt in half-circle,
and even Baby Sammy put up his
chubby hands, while Marcia said short
and solemn and wonderfully sweet lit
tie prayer.
1t was not more than seven o'clock
when they softly closed the door of the
little old house, and turned their backs
upon it. The neighbors along the
road came out to say Goodbye" and
all brought some kindly little good
will offering. One had roasted plump
chicken, another brought jar of
choice fruit, another a whole bush
ell of apples, another a loaf of cake;
and when Marcia undressed Sammy
that first night, she found, hidden away
among his clothing, little Melted
purse containing ten dollars She felt
sure some one had dropped it, and said
sorrowfully that they would have to
90 back next day and find the owner.
But second search revealed bit of
paper, on which was written a few
words saying that the money was 'the
gift of friends" to 'the bravest and
best little girl they ever knew"
81 wonder who they mean?" queried
Marcia, simply. Sammy isn't little
girl"
"Why! Don't you know ?" asked
Zebby. ''They mean you."
"Me ?"
Marcia was amazed.
Eyes; and they know what they're
talking about" said Zebby, stoutly.
Marcia had to cry little over this,
even if Zebby did see her.
What hard journey that was for
those poor little Dills They had no
trouble in finding their way, for Marcia
would ask in every town. But it was
so hot and so dusty that summer, and
old Bally did drag alono 81 SLOWLY